Sectional desk



May 18 1926.

1,585,102 J. G. LANGDON SECTIONAL DESK Filed Oct. 11, 1921 3SheetS-Sheetl gnvenfoz .JfimES ELarLgdnn J. G. LANGDON SECTIONAL DESKMay 18, 1926.

Filed Oct. 11, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J gmwntou, Jaw-LE5 .Langdun map,

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May 18 1926. 1,585,102

, J. G. LANGDON SECTIONAL DESK Filed Oct. 11, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 TamES ELLang dun Patented May 18, 1926.

JAMES G. LANGDON, OF WEST SOMERVIL LE, MASSACHUSETTS.

UNITED S ATES PATENT OFFICE.

a sndrronar. DESK.

- Application filed October 11, 1921. Serial No. 506,947.

I ner, to provide a durable unit, capable of supporting stcnographic,typewriting, adding and bookkeeping maclnnes of considerable weight.

A further, object of the invention is the provision of a desk, includingdetachable legs; a bracing member of novel formation being provided formounting of the legs to said desk. A further object of the invention isthe provision of a desk of the above described character and in which aplurality of sections are provided of such a nature as to be reversiblewith respect to each other.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing two of the desk sectionsassembled to provide a desk unit.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the two sections shown in Figure 1 andassembled in diflerent manner therefrom to provide a desk unit.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken transversely through the desksections and showing the manner of detachably asscmbling the same.

- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the desk sections and showing themanner in which the parts of the same are assembled.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a member used in detachably connectingthe legs of the desk to the various sections thereof.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the leg connecting member, showing the sameas made of sheet metal in its undeveloped form.

Figure 7 is an end view of a desk section and showing the manner inwhich the leg is* assembled thereto.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the letter A designates theimproved desk, including a section 13 for supporting a typewritingmachine or the like, and adapted for detachable connection to a desk orstationary supply section C. A brace member D is providedof' novelformation and adapted for detachably mounting the legs of the table A tothe various sections thereof.

The improved table A simulates somewhat the sectional typewriter deskshown in the .patent granted to me September 15, 1914, #1.,110,948. Itisthe purpose of this invention to improve upon the desk shown in thispatent, providing a more stable and durable connection for supportingthe sections, to form a desk unit, as well as providing a better legattaching arrangement. To this end, themachine supporting section Bincludes a bottom 10 and a top or support-' ing member 11 spacedtherefrom as by intermediate spaced partitions 12. The side rails 14 and15 are provided upon the right and left of the section B, respectively,and permanently attached to the bottom and top members 10 and 11 in anyapproved manner. The rear rail member 16 is provided for cooperationwith the side rail members-14 and 15 in such manner that a marginalupwardly projecting rail enclosure is provided upon the sides and rearof the section B, and extending above the top surface of the member 11.Each of the permanently attached side rails 14 and 15 includes the lowerrelatively thick portion 17 and the upper reduced portion 18 to provideav shelf 19 for resting of the top member 11 thereupon; said portion 17of the side rail members 14 and 15 being of the same height as thespacing partitions 12, and adapted to properly support the ends of thetop member 11. The outside surfaces of the rail members 14 and 15present a plain unbroken surface adapted for intimate contact inabutting a side of the desk section'C, to be subsequently described. Thepartition members 12 are so arranged, as to the length of the desksection C, as to provide relatively wide end compartments 20 forreceiving stationery supplies, such as paper and the like; and anintermediate relatively narrow compartment 21 is provided for receivingenvelopes and the like. The compartments 20 and 21,

however, may receive any articles desired, consistent with the use towhich the improved sectional desk A is put.

The section C may conveniently be called the desk section, and isadapted for the taking of notes, writing of data, or the like. The sameincludes a top writing surface 25, having the skirt 26 depending fromsaid top 25 and ofiset inwardly from the marginal edges of said top 25.A forward bottom member 26, and a rear bottom member 27 are provided forattachment to the lower marginal edges of the skirt 26 and are providedwith trackways 28 there upon and adjacent the sides 29 and 30 of theskirt 26, in order to support a drawer or other sliding member 31,substantially as illustrated in the drawings.

Each of the sections B and C are rectangular in formation, and inassemblage the major axis of the section B is disposed transversely orat right angles to the major axis of the section C. The section B is tobe disposed rearwardly of the front of the section C, substantially asillustrated in the drawings, and in such manner that the outer surfaceof one of the permanently attached rail members 14 or 15 abuts inintimate contact with the outside surface of one of the longitudinalside members 29 or 30 of the skirt 26. It is preferred that the heightof the section B, between the bottom surface of the member 10 and thevery top of the marginal edges ofthe rail sections 14, 15 and 16,

' be less than the height of the desk section C,

as determined by the extreme bottom surface of the member 26 and the top25, so that when the bottom surface of the member 10 lies flush with thebottom surface of the member 26, the sections B and C will assume aposition substantially as illustrated in Figure 3. V

The section B is reversible with respect the sides 29 and 30 of the desksection 0; the rail members 14 and 15 being provided for respectiveabutment against the-sides 29 and 30, when to the left and rightrespectively of the desk section C. In order to pro vide a stable anddurable connection between the sections B and C, and one which iscapable of supporting the excessive weight placed upon the machinesupporting section B, a pair of angle brace members 35 and 36 have beenprovided for attachment to the bottoms 10 and 26 of the sections B andC. Each of the angle braces or connecting bars 35 and 36 are providedwith a pair of securing elements 37, such as screws, bolts or the like,adapted for enga ement upwardly through the bottom 10 of t e section B.Likewise, each of the members 35 and 36 are provided with a pair ofsecur ing elements 38 adapted for engagement upwardly through the bottommember 26 of the section C. The brace bars 35 and 36 are provided fordisposition adjacent the forward and rear edges of the machine sectionB, and thus providing a well balanced supporting structure by holdingthe outer surface of a side rail of section B in abutting relation witha side of the skirt 26.

- WVhen the sections B and C are connected to form a desk unit, a pairof legs 40 and 41 are provided upon the ends of the section C; a'singleleg being provided upon the end of the section B remote from theconnecting bars and 36. The leg 40 is, of course, attached to the bottommember 27 of the section C substantially as illustrated in Figure 4; themember 41 being attached to the bottom surface of the member 26, andadjacent the rear connecting bar 36. Thus, three legs are provided for adesk unit A when the sections B and C are assembled, as above described,said legs 40, 41 and 42 being properly connected to the bottom surfacesof the units B and C by the brace members D to be subsequentlydescribed.

The brace member D for attachment of the legs to the desk unit A is ofnovel formation, including the triangularly shaped bracing pieces 45 and46, of like formation, and connected in diverging relation by a flatvertical attaching section 47 of rectangular appearance. The uppermarginal edges of the reinforcing wings 45 and 46 are provided withhorizontal attaching flanges 48 and 49 respectively, and inturned towardeach other, the attaching upper surfaces of the flanges -18 and 49 lyingin the same plane for attachment to the bottom of the sections 13 and C.The edges 50 of each of the flanges 43 and 49 are bevelled, asillustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings in order to provide forthe even formation and bending of the bracket or brace D. It can readilybe seen that the vertical attaching portion 47 of the member D is atright angles to the horizontal attaching flanges 48 and 49, and firmlyand securely connected by the diverging wing portions 45 and 46.Suitable opertures 51 are provided in the flanges 48 and 49 forattachment to the bottom of the sections B and C. Similarly, suitableapertures 52 are provided in the vertical at-- taching flange 47 forreceiving certain bolts or other members to be subsequently described,for securing of the member D to the legs of the improved typewriter deskA.

As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the legs 40 and 41 areattached to the bottom members 27 and 26 respectively of the section Cby the brace members D. The flanges 48 and 49 of these brace members Dreceive suitable attaching rivets or elements 53, for securely mountingthe legs 40 and 41, said legs receiving suitable detachable bolts 54adapted for engagement in the apertures 52 oft-he vertical attachingportion47 of brace members D. It is preferred,

Ill

that the attaching ortion 47 of each of the braces D face to t e outsideof the end of the section'upon which the same is placed,

apertures 59 and 60 which are shown in full lines in Figure 4.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a in order to prevent spreadingof the desk-"structure has been provided including a malegs. The leg 42of the section B is assembled to the bottom 10 by a brace member D. Theflanges,48 and 49 of this brace member D receive detachable screw orbolt elements 56, adapted for engagement in suitable apertures 58 tappedupwardly in each end of the bottom 10, and whereby the brace member Dmay be reversed for placing the leg 42 adjacent either of the side rails14 and 15, said leg 42 of course, always being positioned remote fromthe side rail which abuts against the skirt 26. Detachable bolt elements58 are provided for engagement of the leg 42 to the vertical attachingportion 47.

As is illustrated throughout the drawings, the section B can be reversedto the left or to the right of the desk section C. Consequently, thesupporting bars and 36 are removable, suitable apertures 59 having beenprovided upon the bottom 26 adjacent both sides of the section C andapertures have been tapped in each end of the bottom 10, for receivingthe elements 37 and 38, to selec tively mount the bars- 35 and 36, As isillustrated in Figure 4, the section B is on the left side of thesection C and the positions of the various legs have been il ustrated infull lines thereon. Should it now be desired to position the unit B uponthe right side of the section C, the leg 42 will necessarily have to bedetached and swung into the position illustrated in dot and dash linesin Figure 4. Similarly, the bars 35 and 36 will have to be' detachedfrom the bottom member 26, and swung into position that the same may beattached by means of the securing members 37 and 38- to the chinesupporting section and a desk section, which are detachable andreversible with respect to each other to provide a unit of considerableflexibility. The retaining or connecting angles 35 and 36 securelysupport the sections B and 0 against liability of sag; and due to thebroad area defined by the outside surfaces of the rail members 14 and15, the joint or connection of the sections is additionally reinforced.The units A may be connected in rows, with the sections B upon each sideof a section C, as is clearly brought out in my Patent #1,110,948.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be madeto the form of the invention herein shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim,

I claim:

In a desk, a machine supporting section including a top member, a bottommember, end rails securing the top member and bottom member in spacedrelation so that said rails are each disposed above and below the planeof'the top member and have outside plane surfaces of the same dimensionsand free of projections, a leg for detachable connection to the bottommember of said section adjacent either end rail, a second sectionincluding skirts at opposite sides thereof against which the plane outersurface of either end rail of said first mentioned section may abut,means for coupling the sections in such relation, and leg supportingmeans for the second section.

JAMES o. LANGDON.

